Lee Myung-hee, the wife of the late Cho Yang-ho, chairman of Hanjin Group, who is accused of habitual assault and verbal abuse against employees, is leaving the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, after the first trial sentencing hearing on the 14th. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Lee Myung-hee, the late Chairman Cho Yang-ho of Hanjin Group’s wife (former director of the Ilwoo Foundation), who was prosecuted for habitual assault on employees, was sentenced to a suspended prison term in the first trial.
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 25-3 (Presiding Judges Kwon Seong-su, Kim Seon-hee, Lim Jeong-yeop) on the 14th sentenced Lee, who was charged with habitual special injury, to 2 years in prison with a 3-year suspension.
The court also ordered 80 hours of community service.
The court recognized most of Lee’s charges as guilty, stating, “Lee’s crimes involved habitual assault and verbal abuse against victims under her influence, and the nature of the crime is not light.”
It added, “While Lee holds the status of a spouse of a large corporation chairman, the victims were drivers or home managers who had no choice but to endure Lee’s unfair behavior,” emphasizing, “there is a high possibility of social condemnation.”
However, the court explained the sentencing reasons by considering “that Lee acknowledged responsibility and reached settlements with all victims, who do not wish for her punishment; that the crimes were committed in moments of sudden anger rather than being premeditated; and that the injuries were not severe.”
The court also added, “Considering that the defendant is 70 years old and the need for members of our society to have more opportunities for empathy and reflection on how they live.”
Lee was prosecuted for shouting, cursing, or hitting with her hands causing injury 22 times to nine employees working at her home, including drivers, from November 2011 to April 2018.
She is also accused of throwing pruning shears at a security guard at her home in Pyeongchang-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, and kicking a driver causing injury for not loading items into a car on a road in Gugidong.
The court acquitted her of three charges among the total allegations, judging that there was insufficient evidence to prove that the victims actually sustained injuries.
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